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Tag: SGF

  • Covid-19: Buhari, Osinbajo, SGF to receive vaccine on live television

    Covid-19: Buhari, Osinbajo, SGF to receive vaccine on live television

    In a bid to encourage Nigerians to get inoculated, President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo will be receiving their COVID-19 vaccine doses on live television.

    Secretary to the Government of the Federation Boss Mustapha will also receive the vaccine on live telecast in a move the government hopes will help drive awareness.

    Executive Director, National Primary Health Care Development Agency Faisal Shuaib stated this on Thursday at the weekly press briefing by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 in Abuja.

    He said: “On Tuesday, I mentioned that we will like to see a situation where Mr President, the Vice President, the SGF, critical leaders come and take the vaccine in full glare of the public to demonstrate that this vaccine is safe.

    “So, we have to make provisions for those. But even in developed countries, what we have seen is that apart from the prioritisation of health workers, you have to also identify critical leaders that you don’t want them to be wiped off by the virus.”

    Shuaib said experience had shown that vaccines are always better than health immunity.

    He said for COVID-19, it would take approximately 10 years for one to be able to achieve health immunity and many people would have died if health immunity is to be relied upon.

    The vaccines are expected in the country by the end of January.

  • SGF, Boss Mustapha in isolation as family members test positive for COVID-19

    SGF, Boss Mustapha in isolation as family members test positive for COVID-19

    Some members of the family of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 pandemic, Mr Boss Mustapha, have tested positive for the virus.

    He announced this in a statement that he personally issued in Abuja on Sunday night.

    The SGF informed that they tested positive on Saturday and are presently asymptomatic.

    According to him, both himself and wife, however, tested negative.

    He said in the statement: “I would like to inform the general public that some members of my household tested positive for COVID-19 yesterday evening.

    “Although they are currently asymptomatic, they have been isolated and are receiving care in one of the government treatment centres.

    “My wife and I tested negative but will remain in self-isolation and work from home according to protocols by the health authorities.

    “I would like to remind all Nigerians that COVID-19 is real. As the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) announced last week, we are recording an increase in cases across several states.

    “Please stay safe and protect yourself. Adhere to all public health and safety measures so that we do not lose the gains we have made in the fight against COVID-19.

    “As a family, we covet your prayers. Please take responsibility for yourself and protect our country!”

  • Fuel hike: NLC, TUC leaders walk out of meeting with SGF, Ngige, Keyamo, other FG representatives

    Fuel hike: NLC, TUC leaders walk out of meeting with SGF, Ngige, Keyamo, other FG representatives

    The Organised Labour on Sunday walked out of a meeting with the Federal Government on recent increase in fuel price and electricity tariffs.

    The meeting was said to be about five minutes old before the Organised Labour, comprising Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, and the Trade Union Congress, TUC, staged a walk out.

    In attendance from the federal government were the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige; Minister of State for Labour, Festus Keyamo; Minister of State for Petroleum, Timiprye Sylva; Minister of State for Power, Goddy Agba and the Secretary to the Government, Boss Mustapha.

    TUC President, Quadri Olaleye told Channels TV that the federal government was dishonest and playing to the gallery and painting the organised labour in a bad light before civil servants and the public.

    Representing the Nigerian Labour Congress was its deputy president, Najeem Yasin.

    According to him, this meeting was not going to be as usual because Labour had seen the insincerity of government in putting them at risk.

    He said they were being taking for a ride, which could not continue.

    “We are in the process of discussing, for over three months now. And they made announcement increasing the fuel price again. And no other person than NNPC. When has authority been giving to NNPC to increase the price of PMS? This is unacceptable.

    “The meeting agenda is not well prioritised. And because of that, we are leaving the meeting. We will not continue, we will go back to our organ, and we are going to get back to you on the next line of action,” he said.

    According to Minister of Labour and Employment, Ngige, “We felt that the item of increase in PMS, having been listed at all as an additional item, would have satisfied everybody.”

  • COVID-19: SGF Applauds NNPC Over COVID-19 Intervention Initiatives

    COVID-19: SGF Applauds NNPC Over COVID-19 Intervention Initiatives

    The Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Chairman of the Presidential Taskforce on Covid-19, Boss Mustapha, has applauded the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) for her unwavering support and several medical interventions, geared towards providing a lasting solution to the novel coronavirus pandemic in Nigeria, saying the gesture showed the corporation as the hallmark of a National Oil Company.

    Mustapha gave this commendation while receiving 20 ventilators donated by Ocea S.A, a France based company through the NNPC, to bolster the fight against COVID-19 in Abuja.

    Mystrose Defence Systems Limited presented the donation to the NNPC on behalf of Ocea S.A. to bolster the fight against COVID-19 in Abuja.

    A press release by NNPC Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Dr. Kennie Obateru, quoted the Chairman of the Presidential Taskforce as saying that the NNPC and her partners, almost on a weekly basis, have either donated medical consumables or commissioned medical infrastructure all in the fight against COVID-19.

    “This is a hallmark of a national institution which, at this very challenging time of COVID-19, is filling the gap in the provision of the kind of things that the nation requires; the facilities that we need to put in place,” Mustapha stated.

    Mustapha assured that the 20 ventilators would be put to good use for the benefit of Nigerians, maintaining that COVID-19 was a big challenge which required everyone’s support to the Federal Government to fight and defeat the pandemic.

    He stated that post COVID-19, the nation’s health institutions would receive the type of rebirth that the Federal Government desires, stressing that with the medical facilities on ground, the nation would have the capacity to combat any epidemic or pandemic thereafter.

    Earlier, the Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Mallam Mele Kyari, said the corporation was pleased to handover the 20 ventilators donated by Ocea S.A through Mystrose Defence Systems Limited to the Federal Government.

    On his part, the Medical Director of the NNPC Medical Services Limited, Dr. Mohammed Zango, stated that the donations from the French company, Ocea S.A was a right step in the right direction, adding that the corporation, as a responsible organization and a strategic partner in the maritime security space, is hereby transmitting the ventilators to the PTF in support of the Federal Government’s effort to combat COVID-19.

    Dr. Zango explained that the company identified the NNPC as a reputable National Oil Company through which the ventilators could be safely delivered to the PTF on COVID-19.

    Kunle Aluko who made the donations on behalf of Mystrose Defence Systems Limited praised the PTF for her unwavering efforts to combat the pandemic,
    assuring the readiness of his company to stand by the Federal Government all through these difficult times.

  • I was born in hospital where they don’t issue birth certificates – SGF, Boss Mustapha

    I was born in hospital where they don’t issue birth certificates – SGF, Boss Mustapha

    Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, has described as misleading reports quoting him as saying he was not aware of the bad state of the nation’s healthcare system.

    Reports had on Thursday quoted Mustapha, who is also the Chairman of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, as claiming to be oblivious of the state of the nation’s healthcare system until the advent of COVID-19, during a meeting with the National Assembly.

    However, during the PTF’s daily media briefing in Abuja on Friday, Mustapha said he was quoted out of context, adding that what had been spread in the media did not reflect his intent or what he actually said.

    According to him, his conversation with the leadership of the National Assembly was that his task as the leader of the PTF had made him fully aware of the state of the nation’s healthcare system.

    Mustapha affirmed he was not just an urban politician but one who had close contacts with his rural base in his home state and well informed of the daily experience of his people, even in terms of healthcare provision.

    “Yesterday (Thursday), I mentioned at the National Assembly that I became fully aware of the state of our medical system during the execution of this Task Force assignment. It has become clear that this has been taken out of context.

    “I must clarify that I am aware and has indeed been a champion for the reform and transformation of the health care system. However, this PTF assignment has afforded me the opportunity to dig deeper, interrogate and x-ray the system better.

    “So for anyone to think that I didn’t know the level of deplorable state of our healthcare systems, is a complete misrepresentation.

    “For the benefit of those who do not know me well, I come from rural Nigeria. I was born in a village almost 64 years ago that didn’t even have a hospital, it had small missionary dispensary probably with one midwife, no birth certificate was offered. So I don’t even have birth certificate, I have declaration of age.

    “A lot of you sitting here are privileged to have been born in a better and more equipped medical facilities. So from birth I know the state of our medical, healthcare, I am not a foreigner.

    “My statement was totally taken out of context because that was not the reflection of what I said. But having to serve in this committee gave me a further insight into what is happening.

    “Most of the things you see around as specialists, hospitals or clinics, you just see the buildings, you don’t know what is inside. But, being in this committee has given me opportunity of walking into these facilities, looking at what they have in relation to what they ought to have, my conclusion on that is that they don’t have what they ought to have.

    “I wanted to give this explanation so that most of you will not think I am an ajebota, no. I was born a rural Nigerian, I grew up in rural Nigeria, I went to school in rural Nigeria and I still live in rural Nigeria.

    “Yola is my home, I’m just on a journey here in Abuja. At the end of my work or whatever I am doing here, I will return home which is rural Nigeria and I am going to live with the facilities in rural Nigeria.

    “The truth of the matter is that this is not the time to be distracted with unnecessary controversies,” he said.

  • If by now you think coronavirus is a scam, I wish you well, SGF tells doubting Nigerians

    If by now you think coronavirus is a scam, I wish you well, SGF tells doubting Nigerians

    The Federal Government has once again emphasised the seriousness of the outbreak of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

    The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and Chairman of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on (COVID-19), Mr. Boss Mustapha, who emphasised the seriousness on Wednesday, spoke on the perspective in some quarters, where COVID-19 is believed to be a hoax.

    The PTF also defrayed the claim being spread through the social media that members of the task force were being paid N500,000 daily sitting allowance, saying no member of the body had received any payment for their time and efforts since it was constituted

    Mustapha responded to a question from one of the journalists at the event, talking about some parts of the country where there is the belief that the COVID-19 was an idea and not a real disease with capacity to infect or cause death.

    According to him, the outbreak is not a joke, scam or hoax, but a real disease, which had killed thousands of people across the world, refering to a story of a Nigerian medical practitioner, who recently lost the battle against the disease in the United Kingdom.

    “The Coronavirus is not a joke. Please, take it very seriously and listen to the government. Please stay safe and protect your loved ones, nothing is more important.

    “Listening to this, I think we’ve gone past the stage, however ignorant a person is, wherever you live in Nigeria, for you to begin to assume that this is a scam, a hoax or a joke and I think those of you in the media have the responsibility for driving this point.

    “This is not a joking matter, we’ve gotten to the stage where we are beginning to see some of the things that are happening in other climes.

    “So, we ought to take it with every element of seriousness and for those that think it’s a hoax or a scam, I wish them well, but for those of us who believe that we ought to do everything humanly possible to contain this spread or limit the infection or mortality, we will continue to work day and night and that is why I solicit your support and cooperation in this particular endeavour”, Mustapha said.

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, described reports that members of the task force had been receiving half a million naira daily as sitting allowance as fake news, which should be disregarded.

    According to him, no member of the task force had received anything as payment for their efforts. Rather, they had been the ones who had been expending their resources to carry out a national task.

    “The issue I want to take on is that of the sitting allowance of half a million naira, paid to each of the members of the task force. You will remember that each time I come here, since I tested negative for Coronavirus, my other major problem has been fake news.

    “As soon as I got that information, I consulted with my colleagues here whether I’m not a member of the task force and I asked them whether they’d received their own and they said no.

    “What bothers me is that since about 2 O’clock this afternoon I’ve been receiving text messages to send money to people; that they were broke, they had no money and I began to wonder, why today? Apparently, they are acting on this fake news that we receive half a million naira everyday.

    “The truth of the matter is that no member of the committee has received one penny, either for sitting or sleeping allowance, not even when we went to Lagos yesterday.

    “So, you see this fake news is targeted at one thing alone: to distract the government from the more serious problem and task of containing and combating fake news.

    “I want to say loud and clear; no member of the committee receives a penny as sitting allowance. Everybody sacrificed his time, energy and even sometimes his resources”, Mohammed said.

  • COVID-19: Petroleum Minister, Sylva Hands Over Ambulances to SGF [Photos]

    COVID-19: Petroleum Minister, Sylva Hands Over Ambulances to SGF [Photos]

    The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, has handed over five ambulances to Secretary to Government of the Federation, cum Chairman of the Presidential Taskforce for the Control of Coronavirus (Covid-19), Boss Mustapha.

    COVID-19: Petroleum Minister, Sylva Hands Over Ambulances to SGF [Photos]
    Honourable Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva (Left) with Group Managing Director of NNPC, Mallam Mele Kyari at the presentation of Ambulances to the Federal Government to combat COVID-19 Pandemic, behind is Dr. Kennie Obateru, Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, NNPC.
    A release today in Abuja by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Dr. Kennie Obateru, quoted the corporation’s Group Managing Director as saying that the ambulances marked the first instalment of Industry collective donation of N11billion, now shored up to N21billion.
    Aiteo Exploration and Production Company Limited, an NNPC Joint Venture Company partner donated the ambulances.

    Handing over the ambulances to Mustapha, the Hon. Minister of State for Petroleum Resources stated at the ceremony that the prevailing time was far from being normal, saying it was a time that called for collective efforts.
    Chief Sylva disclosed at the event that the support for the cause was an ongoing one, saying that whatever were received afterwards would be delivered to the committee.

    He said that the Oil and Gas Industry, under the leadership of NNPC, had come together to contribute their quota to the effort to stemming the pandemic.

    Responding, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mustapha, applauded the NNPC and the entire Oil and Gas Industry for the maximum support extended to the Federal Government in the campaign against the pandemic.

    Conducting the two top government officials round the 190-bed facility donated by the Petroleum Industry, Mallam Kyari stated that the Thisday Dome, Abuja that would house the bed-spaces was donated by yet another of NNPC partners, the Sahara Group.

    He said other NNPC’s partners, local and international, continued to implement projects capable of lasting impact in their host communities as well as across the nation’s geographical zones, describing the feat as the hallmark of “Good Corporate Citizenship”.

    “Aside from consignments of medical consumables and logistics facilities, we are embarking on construction of at least two permanent hospitals and a world class diagnostics centers in each of the geopolitical zones in the country. All these are over and above our regular social investments through various CSR initiatives, the Mallam Kyari stated.

    Mallam Kyari explained that the donation was collaborative, drawing support from the Energy Group, the private sector and a Chinese company, CCECC, to fight COVID-19 pandemic.

    The NNPC helmsman disclosed that the 190-bed facility would be ready for use in two weeks’ time, stating that donations were in kind, that is, respective going concerns would provide the medical materials pledged following their companies’ procurement procedures.

    At an NNPC property in Utako District of Abuja, Mallam Kyari announced that the corporation had set aside a 60-bed capacity facility of the property to support the fight against the pandemic.

    The NNPC GMD said the facility, located in the heart of Abuja, would equally be ready in the next two weeks.
    He explained that the Utako facility would be equipped with oxygen generating plants, ventilators and other medical logistics that would support the Federal Government ongoing fight against the spread of coronavirus pandemic, saying that it has 10 Intensive Care Units that would serve as back up to the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital Isolation unit in Gwagwalada.

    The NNPC helmsman commiserated with families of those who lost their loved ones to the pandemic, saying he was hopeful that the Industry efforts would go a long way to stemming the spread of the disease.

  • Reps committee summons SGF over non existing board for PenCom

    The House of Representatives Committee on Pensions on Wednesday summoned the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) to explain why the Governing Board for National Pension Commission (PenCom) was not constituted.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) however, reports that no date was given for the SGF, Mr Boss Mustapha to appear before the committee.

    The Committee Chairman, Hon. Kabiru Rurum gave the summon at the ongoing public hearing/investigation held for stakeholders on the non-remittance of pension contributions by some employers in Abuja.

    The public hearing was also to investigate delays of nonpayment of pension entitlements to retirees by pension fund administrators, non adherence and compliance to the provisions of the pension reform Act 2014 by relevant government authorities.

    The Chairman, represented by Hon. Mansur Soro said a date would be communicated to the SGF.

    He said that the committee was established to protect the rights of pensioners.

    “What is the government doing concerning PenCom governing board,’’ he asked.

    Rurum said if there was an existing board most of the problems in the pension scheme would have been resolved.

    He urged PenCom to monitor Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) on the delay in the payment of retirees and relax unnecessary requirements.

    Rurum also advised PFAs to sharpen their communications with the Retirement Savings Account (RSA) holders to know what they were contributing, and their current account status among others.

    Earlier, the Corps Marshal of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Dr Boboye Oyeyemi, said the commission was grappling with its retirees non-satisfaction with the calculated lump sum released to them on retirement by their PFAs.

    According to him, the FRSC is also not comfortable with the delay in payment of pension contributions of its retired employees by relevant authorities.

    Oyeyemi, represented by a Deputy Corps Marshal, Shehu Zaki said there were unnecessary conditions placed on retirees and their next of kin before they could access pension contributions or deaths benefit.

    “They request for obituary posters, utility bills and other documents regardless of their peculiar circumstances or remoteness of their location.’’

    Oyeyemi urged PFAs to be opened to retirees on parameters used by them in calculating the statutory lump sum, adding that proactive actions should be taken by relevant authorities in processing pension benefits of employees.

    He also said that some requirements by PFAs could be avoided while processing retirees pension benefits and employees death benefits.

    The acting Director-General of PenCom, Hajiya Aishat Umar, said that the payment of lump sum was in line with the provision of Pension Reform Act 2014.

    Umar, represented by Mrs Ekaneam Aikhomu, also said that pension retirees should be paid pension equivalent of 50 per cent of their last salaries and the balance paid as lump sum.

    “Payment of the lump sum is based on what has been accumulated over time in the RSA,’’ she said.

    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that some of the PFAs were instructed to go and amend their presentations and come back on March 19 for representation of their submissions.

  • Insecurity: Why Buhari can’t sack Service Chiefs – SGF

    Boss Mustapha, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) has explained reasons why Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari cannot sack service chiefs now.

    He lashed out at those calling for their sack, saying that there are processes that must be followed to effect their sack.

    Speaking in Abuja on Tuesday, Mustapha admitted that the nation was in a very difficult time now and that everybody was needed to be on board.

    “We need synergy within intelligent community, within the military formations that will help fight this war. We are in a very difficult situation and when we begin to create cracks and divisions, who will be the beneficiaries? The adversaries are the ones that are going to exploit those deficiencies and further the cause of destabilising the nation,” he said.

    Mustapha, who spoke with newsmen after a book presentation titled: “CAN, Religion, politics and power in Nigeria,” by former General Secretary of Christian Association of Nigeria(CAN), Engr Samuel Salifu.

    According to him, what the government needed at this moment was for everybody to be on the same page, fight the battle of securing the nation for protecting lives and property and ensuring that every Nigerian had the opportunity to live a prosperous live.

    “I think that should be our main focus. You don’t sack people like that. There are processes and I believe that at the opportune time, those processes will be followed. You don’t just wake up and say sack people, it doesn’t happen like that,” he said

  • Governors’ wives write SGF, IGP, demand special court for rape cases

    Governors’ wives write SGF, IGP, demand special court for rape cases

    The wives of the 36 states’ governors have written a petition to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, demanding the setting up of special offences courts for rape and defilement cases, and for such cases to be charged to the courts and heard without undue delays.
    The petition, which was copied the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Adamu, also urged him to direct the creation of rape and sexual offences desks in police stations across the country where they do not exist, and that appropriately, trained personnel should be designated to provide timely support for victims.
    The petition was signed by Wife of Chairman, Nigerian Governors Forum, Mrs. Bisi Fayemi; Chair, Northern Governors Wives Forum, Dr. Amina Abubakar and Chair, Southern Governors Wives Forum, Mrs. Betsy Obaseki, on behalf of others, which was made available to journalists in Ado-Ekiti yesterday.
    The wives of the governors also pleaded with all political, religious and community leaders to speak up against the abuse of women and children.They condemned the levels of violence against women and children in the country, saying: “As mothers, we empathise with survivors of these heinous acts and urge them to be courageous in speaking up no matter how long it takes. We salute them.
    “We lend our voices to that of our First Lady, Dr. Aisha Buhari, who recently called for action to be taken on the increasing rate at which women and children are being sexually abused in Nigeria. On a daily basis, we are inundated with cases of defilement (of even babies of six months old), rape, domestic violence, sexual harassment and murders of women and children.
    “It is also worrisome that women and children with special needs have also become targets of sexual violence. We note with concern that in spite of the existence of laws at the federal level such as the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act of 2015 as well as legislations at state level to protect the well-being of women and children, perpetrators still continue their despicable acts with impunity.
    “On the rare occasions when incidences of rape are reported, victims are intimidated and shamed into silence.“We hereby urged the Inspector-General of Police to direct the Police to treat rape and defilement cases with the speed and seriousness to ensure justice for victims.”However, they urged the Minister of Health to ensure provision of timely, sensitive and comprehensive medical services to victims of sexual violence.